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Looking for a basic streamer without a DAC, preamp, storage and all that

I’m looking for a simple streamer to connect to my Schiit Bifrost DAC via USB, coax, or toslink. Every streamer I look at has some combination of features I don’t need: screen, preamp, phono stage, amp, DAC, hard drive, Roon-readiness, etc.

All I want to do is use Tidal Connect on my iPhone or iPad to send the content to the streaming device which will connect to my DAC which is connected to my system. For the sake of convenience, I’d prefer not to connect my phone or iPad directly to the DAC. 

So is there a really basic and pared down streamer that’ll just accept content from Tidal or the like or am I going to have to sort out which streamer has the least amount of features I don’t need and just live with it? Or am I just going to have to accept connecting my iPhone or iPad to the DAC?


pip_helix
pip_helix OP
30 posts
 
@brockwired 

“In my living room I sometimes cast to my smart tv. I am using toslink to my DAC. Works great and eliminates a ground loop.”

I didn’t catch this earlier!!

 I don’t want to always have the TV on when I’m listening to music (infant in the house) but in the short term it seems I could run Tidal HiFi on my Apple TV and then run optical audio out from my TV to my DAC until I decide on a less “visible” solution like a Node 2i or SMS 200 or similar. 
tk21
238 posts
 
A DAC chip adds very little to the cost of a device like the Node 2i.
I have one and keep disconnecting it (to reduce clutter), then wanting to reconnect just because it is so versatile.  The DAC is easily bypassed. But its features include programmable remote control, basic bass management, multi-room play, and streaming services that overlap with what Roon offers.  Using the Node 2i, for instance, I can set up playlist buttons on a handheld IR remote, then rapidly switch between TV and Jazz/Indie music. Dunno how to do this using only Roon and a programmable remote.
headphonedreams
527 posts
 
If you don't want to tinker with a Raspberry Pi you can buy a ready-made one. I have a RPi with a HifiBerry hat and Volumio connected to a dac and it works great.

Like Volumio Primo or Orchard. Or Projekt.

https://youtu.be/zSYyudGfX6E

https://orchardaudio.com/shop/ols/products/pcnp-strmr
mesch
3,480 posts
 
I am with those that recommend the Bluesound  for ease of use. Your Bitfrost is likely a better DAC. Likely not paying much for the internal DAC.

 
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